Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device - Is there any solution?

Hairy Scot · 03 Oct 2022

I connect an extrnal HDD to take backups on a daily basis, and have been doing so for a number of years.
Recently I've been having problems removing the device when the backup is complete.
I've tried all of the published solutions, even tried the Power Shell event log query to identify what might be holding the device but even after killing the tasks or processes it identified I still could not eject the device.

Does anyone have a working solution?

Windows 10 Pro 21H2 Build 19044.2075

Paul Black · 03 Oct 2022

Hello @Hairy Scot,

Here is one possible solution => How to Create a Safely Remove Hardware Shortcut in Windows 10

I hope this helps.

Bastet · 04 Oct 2022

Is there any error message showing when you click on the icon?

RickC · 04 Oct 2022

Instead of a PowerShell query, perhaps use something like small, free LockHunter? I find it gives more insightful results and is much quicker/easier to use.

After installation, just right-click on the drive (or a file or folder) and select LockHunter's context option to see what's holding it open:

Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device - Is there any solution?-lockhunter_context.png

LockHunter will show the locking process(es) and what's locked:

Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device - Is there any solution?-lockhunter_locking_processes.png

After you've worked out what process/es is/are involved then maybe a solution can be determined.

Hope this helps...

Paul Black · 04 Oct 2022

You could always try the Portable version first => LockHunter Portable.

I hope this helps.

Hairy Scot · 04 Oct 2022

Simple solution.
Do not connect drive before booting system!

I'm not sure when I developed the habit of connecting the drive before booting my PC, but that was the cause of the problem.

My thanks to all respondents.

idgat · 04 Oct 2022

If you're using the built-in Windows Safely Remove Hardware I sympathise. I've found it flaky and unreliable at the best of times.

With no apologies to the purists, I have much better overall success with 3rd party software USB Disk Ejector, it has succeeded more often than not where other options have failed..